Tulsa Time

Fayetteville Arkansas. I arrived 4pm Thursday 24th in time for festival registration. Within an hour the Festival had begun with a magic sultry Thursday night at Garner Farm. Friday was a magic two-hour KUAF radio show hosted by the charming and affable Kyle Kellams. The Main Stage festival acts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday were terrific. Engaging late night events at The Chancellor Hotel, the OPO and Georges Majestic Lounge. A beautifully serene Monday with an intimate house concert (thanks again Dawn and Lori) with the talented J Wagner.

Today it is goodbye. My generous and kind host Dawn cooked breakfast and gave me a food survival pack. The dogs looked pensive, the cat looked, well, impassive, but you never know, I might be missed!?

So it was two hours to Tulsa, due west. The leafy, undulating lush Ozarks soon give way to a tumble-down highway. After a while I was ready for a coffee. After a further while, I started to notice 4-letter words with CA*E. There was signs with care, case, cave, cage, cake and cape. Every one I mistook for a resting place and coffee.

The road opened up as if by magic. More road and fewer cars. How does that work? Just maybe…because it was a toll road!? Only one checkpoint though, through the cash lane and $2.50 seemed a modest impost. The lady was very pleasant. (I could not imagine having a toll booth in Australia with a person in it)

Past another Casino owned by the Cherokee Nation. I had seen three or four between Dallas and Fayetteville on the way up, and I am assuming they are a feature in the State of Oklahoma. Past the grand and flashy Hard Rock Casino as well and, the highlight of my journey, the Gathering Cowboys’ Church.

I needed the phone app to get to my hotel, the Aloft Downtown, as the GPS was confused. Time for a stretch and dinner – a few times I almost stopped at an eatery but I kept going for a dozen blocks or so until reached the happening part of 1st Avenue where El Guapo’s was located on a corner and three bustling stories high. It was busy and I had to wait -it was promoted as a ‘Popular Mexican eatery featuring Oaxacan dishes, burritos, margaritas & scenic rooftop dining’. Well I experienced the lot. Highly recommended.

It was still early, so I stopped by the nearby liquor store to take a night-cap back to the hotel. As can happen sometimes, there was a homemade drum kit in the store, made by the guy behind the counter – Jascha Tobias. You can see him below.